Protesters Jeer as Trump Team Promotes Coal at U.N. Climate Talks

Source: MSN/NY Times

BONN, Germany — The Trump administration made its debut at a United Nations conference on climate change on Monday by giving a full-throated defense of fossil fuels and nuclear energy as answers to driving down global greenhouse gas emissions.

The forum — the only official appearance by the United States delegation during the annual two-week climate gathering of nearly 200 nations — illustrated how sharply the administration’s views are at odds with those of many key participants in the climate negotiations.

George D. Banks, special adviser to President Trump on international energy issues, led a panel with top American energy executives. “Without question, fossil fuels will continue to be used, and we would argue that it’s in the global interest to make sure when fossil fuels are used that they be as clean and efficient as possible,” Mr. Banks said. “This panel is controversial only if we chose to bury our heads in the sand.”

But even before the Trump team could make its case, the panel was disrupted for more than 10 minutes by scores of chanting and singing demonstrators. The protesters then walked out, leaving the room half empty. Throughout the remainder of the presentation, audience members shouted down and mocked White House officials who attempted to explain away President Trump’s stated view that global warming is a hoax.

I translated via Google translation, I'm at work and have not enough time to do better for now, sorry.

Do not give my name, they do not know what they want in the country and we still have about fifteen elders, convinced that global warming is a reality that our policies should face. But this is not fashion anymore and we are doing a figuration here not even smart since the other delegates do not even bother to listen to us. We have the impression of being the guardians of a flame that no one at home wants to revive.